Device for dispersing volatile materials



Feb. 4, 1964 SJ. BOLGER DEVICE FOR DISPERSING VOLATILE MATERIALS I Filed Jan. 16, 1963 Y INVENTOR J feplzen .JLB

I Ming IIIIIl/IIIIIII ATTORNEY II/IIIIIIIIIII IIIIIIIIIIII United States Patent 4 Claims. (Cl. 239-52) The present invention relates to a device for dispersing volatile materials such as repellents for moths and other insects, room fragrances, deodorants and the like.

The primary objects of the invention are to provide a device for dispersing volatile materials slowly over a relatively long period of time in instances where this is desirable such as, for example, when it is desired to disperse a moth repellent in a clothes closet.

An illustrative embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of one form of my new device;

FIGURE 2 is a front elevational view of the same; and

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 3 3 of FIGURE 2.

Referring now in detail to this drawing, the new device comprises a roll of relatively wide and thick flexible tape which may desirably be made of a plastic material. As shown, the tape 10 has a multiplicity of pockets ill in one surface thereof, in which pockets there are deposits of volatile material 12 which may be in any of various forms, such as fluid, paste or even solid so long as it is of a volatile character. The purpose for which the device is to be used determines the particular kind of material 12 used and of the gas which is to be exuded from the tape, such as moth repellent, room fragrance, etc.

On the free or outer end of the tape 16- is a wire loop 13 by means of which the roll of tape may be suspended from a suitable support such as the hook :14 shown protruding from a wall 15. On one surface of the tape 1tl as here shown the same surface in which are provided the pockets filled with volatile material, there is applied a tacky substance 16 which covers only the surface of the tape and not the pockets. This substance 16 is sufilciently tacky to retard unrol-ling of the tape but is not tacky enough to prevent such unrolling.

In use the roll of tape is hung in the desired location, for example near the ceiling of a room. The weight of the roll causes it to gradually unroll toward the floor, by gravity. As the pockets 11 are successively exposed the volatile material therein evaporates thus progressively performing its function. The rate at which this unrolling takes place is dependent upon the tackiness of the substance 16 which can be varied to produce the desired period of time for complete unrolling of the tape, which may be days, weeks or even months. It may also be found desirable to provide a weight 117 in the center of the roll, as shown, to insure complete unrolling of the tape.

It will thus be seen that the invention provides a novel and effective device for dispersing volatile materials. While I have chosen a pocketed tape to illustrate the invention, it will be understood that the invention may be 3,l2@,345 Patented Feb. 4, 1964 embodied in other forms such as, for example, a wick-type tape impregnated with the desired material. Hence, while but one specific form of the invention has been herein shown and described, it will be understood that the invention comprehends all such forms as fall within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A device of the class described comprising a roll of tape having pockets in the surface thereof and a volatile material in said pockets, said tape being coated with a tacky substance for retarding the unrolling of the tape, the mass of the roll of tape and the tackiness of the coating substance being such that when the outer end of the tape is fastened to a support thereabove, the roll will by itself slowly descend and unwind and progressively expose said volatile material.

2. A device of the class described comprising a roll of tape having pockets in the surface thereof and a volatile material in said pockets, a loop on the free end of the tape whereby the roll of tape may be suspended from a suitable support and descend therefrom by gravity to unroll the tape and progressively exude said volatile material, and a tacky substance on the surface of the tape for retarding said unrolling movement, the mass of the roll of tape and the tackiness of the coating substance being such that when the outer end of the tape is fastened to a support thereabove, the roll will by itself slowly descend and unwind and progressively expose said volatile material.

3. A device according to claim 2 having a weight in the center of the roll of tape for effecting by gravity onrolling of the tape below said loop, the mass of the roll of tape and the tackiness of the coating substance being such that when the outer end of the tape is fastened to a support thereabove, the roll will by itself slowly descend and unwind and progressively expose said volatile material.

4. A device for progressively dispersing volatile material, comprising a roll of flexible tape having a plurality of recessed pockets formed in one surface thereof, a volatile material positioned within each of said pockets, a tacky substance covering said surface of the tape and being in surrounding relation to said pockets but not overlying said pockets such that the volatile material may freely volatilize from said pockets when exposed to the atmosphere, the tacky substance being sufficiently tacky to retard unrolling of the tape but permitting unrolling thereof, means at the free end of the tape for suspending the tape from a suitable support, means causing the roll to slowly unroll downwardly under the influence of gravity whereby the pockets are successively exposed and the volatile material progressively evaporates.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 603,981 Thum May 10, 1898 612,686 Thum Oct. 18, 1898 663,550 Moss Dec. 11, 1900 1,005,180 Ellis Oct. 10, "-1911 2,315,772 Closs Apr. 6, 194-3 FOREIGN PATENTS 843,250 France Mar. 20, 1939 

1. A DIVICE OF THE CLASS DESCRIBED COMPRISING A ROLL OF TAPE HAVING POCKETS IN THE SURFACE THEREOF AND A VOLATILE MATERIAL IN SAID POCKETS, SAID TAPE BEING COATED WITH A TACKY SUBSTANCE FOR RETARDING THE UNROLLING OF THE TAPE, THE MASS OF THE ROLL OF TAPE AND THE TACKINESS OF THE COAT- 